Late Barnes strike snatches point for Leicester at the London Stadium

West Ham United 2:2 Leicester City

Harvey Barnes first goal for City earned them an injury-time point in a 2-2 draw at West Ham on Saturday…

Brendan Rodgers made two changes to his his side, with Morgan and Barnes making way for Evans and Albrighton.
On a blazing hot day in East London, this game had an end of season feel about it and a fairly lethargic first half unfolded.
The first chance fell to City in the 4th minute. Albrighton played a ball forward, Vardy nodded it back to Maddison, who made room for a shot that went too close to Fabianski.
A period of West Ham pressure followed, though City weren’t too too stretched as they defended a series of corners and free-kicks.
The home side’s first real chance came in the 25th minute when Arnautovic fired a cross into the six yard box, but Ricardo managed to block what should have been a far post tap in for Antonio and the ball looped up into Schmeichel’s grasp.
A rare chance for City arrived in the 32nd minute when Maddison again made room for himself 20 yards out, but again failed to test Fabianski.
West Ham pressed again, Snodgrass robbing Tielemans and feeding Anderson, whose fierce shot hit Antonio and deflected wide.
The warning signs had been there for City, who looked very subdued, and the Hammers took a 37th minute lead. After a patient passing move Noble got in down the left and delivered a cross for Antonio that saw him rise above Chilwell to nod home past Schmeichel from 8 yards.
It was a lead that West Ham took down the tunnel at half time, and no one could argue that City deserved more.

City continued to struggle after the break, despite West Ham moving down a gear, but things began to improve on the hour. They started to press forward, and then Rodgers made his first change, bringing Barnes on for Albrighton.
Chilwell then burst into the penalty area, before going to ground, but his appeals for a penalty looked optimistic. But a minute later City were back in the game.
Chilwell delivered a cross from the left and Vardy nipped ahead of Balbuena for a superb near post finish.
This woke the game up, and City went close again two minutes later when the ball fell for Ndidi after some pinball in the area but his side-footed effort went a couple of yards wide of the right hand post.
It was end-to-end stuff now, and Maguire blocked an Anderson shot, before Maddison fired one wide.
It looked as though there were more goals in the game, and so it proved.
West Ham regained their lead in the 82nd minute with two substitutes combining – Obiang sent a low 20 yarder thumping against the post and Pérez, who had followed up, only had to stick a foot out to finish past a grounded Schmeichel.
Pérez then had the ball in the net again after rounding Schmeichel but was judged to be offside, though this appeared to be a harsh decision from the replays.
Rodgers brought Iheanacho on for Gray as City tried to find a way back.
A Vardy cross just eluded Barnes and Iheanacho and then Barnes crossed for Iheanacho who seemed to be in two minds whether to connect with head or foot.
As City laid siege to the Hammers’ area Maddison had a shot blocked and Chilwell sent a long range effort straight at Fabianski.
As play entered five minutes of time-added-on City had all the possession, and they managed to unlock West Ham’s defence in the 92nd minute. Tielemans spotted Barnes’s run into the area and threaded a superb ball through to him. Barnes sent a precise shot across Fabianski and in at the far post, his first goal in a City shirt.
It hadn’t been a great performance from City, before they roused themselves for the final half hour, but it was a well-earned point in the end.

Brendan Rodgers explained his decision to leave Barnes out: “Today I took him out of the team so he could come into the game and hopefully make an impact because there has been a lot around him about getting his first goal and everything. It can sometimes weigh on the minds of young players so I took him out of the starting line-up to see if he could come in and make an impact. He put a couple of great crosses into the box and made a wonderful run and finish. I am delighted for him because it is a wonderful moment for a young player, to celebrate with the supporters. I am very pleased for him.”

United: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Antonio, Noble (Wilshere 85), Snodgrass (Obiang 73), Felipe Anderson, Arnautovic (Pérez 78).
Substitutes: Adrián, Diop, Fredericks, Diangana.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Albrighton (Barnes 64), Ndidi, Tielemans (Mendy 90), Gray (Iheanacho 84), Maddison, Vardy.
Substitutes: Söyüncü, Ward, Okazaki, Fuchs.
Referee: Lee Probert. Attendance: 59,960.

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FOX 212 – The Leicester City fanzine – is in the shops now

The 212th edition of The FOX – is now in the shops…

It features: An exclusive interview with Swindon Town manager and former City midfielder Richie Wellens; Lots about Brendan Rodgers; Fully Programmed from the David Pleat era; Fox Diary – adieu to Claude Puel; the History of Leicester City in 100 Objects; the latest news from the Foxes Trust; Favourite Shirts – your nostalgic nylon; Rewind – back in the big time after ten years; Foxed in the Head – on balls, the Holy ebay Grail and a grand day out in Middlesbrough; Details on our new interviews compilation book – ‘Can’t Buy That Feeling’; John Hutchinson looks back on Frank Large’s brief but brilliant time at Filbert Street; your letters and Bentley’s Roof, and FiftySomething has a lively debate with some Celts…

The most fun you can have for £2.50…

Richie Wellens Interview extract…

FOX: As a manager now, can you look back at Paulo Sousa’s short reign and identify what went wrong?

RW: One hundred percent. He tried to do too much too quickly. He had a certain style at Swansea, open expansive football. He’d had a goalkeeper that was comfortable with the ball, but at Leicester he didn’t. At Leicester he had a back four that was strong and committed and defended the box very well, but suddenly he wanted them to be open and to play the ball out. We just weren’t ready for that style at the time. He was an unbelievable coach, his training sessions were very intense and specific. He knew what he wanted, but he didn’t get the results to buy himself some time.

FOX: He was quickly replaced by Sven Goran Eriksson, was that a surprise to the squad?

RW: We weren’t surprised because we’d had a little inkling that he was coming, but we were pleased.
I think Mike Stowell and Steve Beaglehole took charge for one game and then it was an international break so we were off to Bangkok. We went to Heathrow and met him for the first time in a lounge airport. We were a bit nervous with him being such a big name. He said: ”Hello lads, if you want to go and have a drink that’s fine, it’s a long flight.”
We were all thinking “Is this a test?” Well, if it was a test we failed. We went and had a few beers and it was fine, he was very light-hearted. It was a thirteen-hour flight and I’m one of those who can’t sleep on a plane. I went up to the toilet and Sven was getting changed from his tracksuit into his suit for the landing. I had a twenty minute conversation with him and straight away you could see that his man-management skills were brilliant. He has an air of expertise and calmness about him, and you could see that he was a class act.

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You can buy a copy of FOX 212 online via Paypal HERE. 

 

Leicester beaten by Newcastle after Rafa does his homework

Leicester City 0:1 Newcastle United

City suffered a frustrating evening at the King Power Stadium on Friday night as Newcastle defended solidly and engineered a 1-0 win…

Brendan Rodgers made one change to his side with Maguire in for Söyüncü, while Albrighton returned to the bench after four months out with injury.
In a lively start Newcastle were the first to threaten in the second minute when Lascelles got a header on target from the corner, but it didn’t trouble Schmeichel.
As play swept up the other end Barnes crossed for Vardy, but his near post flick was easily saved by Dubravka.
After these early exchanges the game settled in a pattern of City possession with Newcastle denying them any space and looking to hit on the break.

Barnes fired a shot well over, but City’s passing wasn’t up to the standard of recent weeks and they were struggling to create anything.
In the 15th minute, with the scoreboard showing that City had 81% possession, Rondon sent a well-struck free-kick against the bar. So much for stats.
Chilwell then played a one-two with Maddison into the area, but Chilwell’s shot didn’t have enough to beat Dubravka.
After a couple of speculative shots from Almiron and Hayden, Barnes raced past two markers before firing in a shot that was too close to Dubravka, who gathered at the second attempt.
Newcastle had looked threatening going forward, and took a 32nd minute lead. Ritchie whipped in a great cross from the left and Perez, nipping ahead of Morgan, produced a fine header that looped over Schmeichel and into the net.

Two minutes later Newcastle could have gone further ahead when Almiron outpaced Morgan down the left channel and fired in a low shot that Schmeichel had to get down smartly to to block at his near post.
City looked a bit rattled and their frustration saw Tielemans booked for a nasty late challenge on Ki. They were the side who were happier to hear the half time whistle.

City didn’t come racing out of the traps for the second half. The first effort saw Ndidi ballooning a shot well over the bar in the 50th minute and then Almiron did similar at the other end.
City didn’t create a chance until the 62nd minute, when Maddison’s cross from the left grazed Vardy’s forehead before going wide.

With City unable to find any space in Newcastle’s third, the best chance of scoring appeared to be from a free-kick. But when Maddison earned one 25 yards out, he opted for a pass which went straight into the Newcastle wall.
The frustration was bubbling and in the 68th minute Schmeichel earned himself a yellow card for coming out to the halfway line to berate the ref about something that had mysteriously enraged him. Something had to change and in the 72nd minute Rodgers brought Iheanacho and Mendy on for Gray and Ndidi.
In the 75th minute a foul on Maguire saw a yellow card for Schar and a free-kick in Maddison territory. But he couldn’t repeat his recent successes, sending his shot sailing into the Kop.
Perez then wriggled his way  through the penalty area before Schmeichel managed to block his effort from close range.
City’s best chance of the night came in the 79th minute when Tielemans fed a fine ball through to Vardy, but he lifted his effort over both keeper and bar.
The biggest cheer of the night from the home fans came when Albrighton was introduced for Barnes with ten minutes remaining.

City pressed forward, switched play from left to right, and tried to get in behind on both flanks, but they were met with a black and white striped wall and could not find a way through. Too many players had an off day and Rafa Benitez had clearly done his homework on how to negate City’s routes to goal.
The four-match winning streak was over and 7th place was beginning to look a little beyond them.

Brendan Rodgers summed up: “It was one of those nights where it didn’t quite come off for us but the players gave everything. We’ll go away and analyse it and hopefully we’ll be better the next time we face that kind of opponent. It’s obviously disappointing when you lose any game. The important thing is learning from it, we’re here to help the team improve eventually in these types of games.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi (Mendy 72), Gray (Iheanacho 72), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Albrighton 80), Vardy.
Substitutes:Evans, Ward, Okazaki, Fuchs.
Newcastle: Dubravka, Manquillo, Schär, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Pérez,
Hayden, Ki Sung-yueng (Diamé 82), Almirón (Atsu 78), Rondón.
Substitutes: Shelvey, Muto, Fernandez, Yedlin, Darlow.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Attendance: 32,108.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber. 

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Stylish Leicester add to Terriers Woes

Huddersfield Town 1:4 Leicester City

City won their fourth consecutive Premier League game with fine 4-1 win against relegated Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday…

Brendan Rodgers made one change to his side, with Söyüncü in for the injured Evans, while Maguire was allowed some paternity leave.
City got off to a slow start, but for Barnes causing Town problems down the left, but their first chance arrived in the 18th minute. Söyüncü drove forward out of defence and fed Barnes, whose cross was blocked by Hamer. The rebound sat up for Maddison to shoot from close range but Hamer stopped it with his face.

With City getting into their stride Hogg was booked for pulling Maddison back, and then Gray forced a save from Hamer with a long range effort.
And they took a 24th minute lead leading from a corner. Maddison played the flag-kick to Vardy who didn’t connect properly, Morgan got a touch back to Tielemans who sent a dipping shot past a deceived Hamer from 22 yards.
Two minutes later City almost doubled their lead when Vardy wriggled through two challenges in the area but had the ball nipped away from him as he pulled the trigger. The loose ball fell for Gray who sent a hurried shot over the bar.
Maddison then broke clear on goal but Stankovic denied him with a last-ditch challenge.
The Terriers had a rare chance in the 33rd minute when Grant was tackled by Morgan,  but Schmeichel had raced off his line and Pritchard attempted a lob into the empty goal.
Söyüncü recovered his ground well to head it way, applying a safety first attitude as it looked to be drifting just wide.
City had a couple more chances to increase their lead before the break, Tielemans testing Hamer with a 30 yarder, and Gray shooting at the keeper’s legs when he should have squared to a team-mate after a City break upfield.

Town threatened early in the second half when half time substitute Mbenza swung in a fine cross from the right, and Grant got a toe to it from six yards, but Schmeichel reacted brilliantly to parry it away.
A minute later City went 2-0 up. Gray fed Ricardo down the right and his perfect cross between keeper and defence found Vardy who swept it home at the far post.
His sixth in the six games since Claude Puel departed.

Any thoughts that the game was over were dispelled just three minutes later, when Huddersfield pulled a goal back in controversial circumstances. Söyüncü slipped on the turf as he was gathering a pass from Ndidi, he recovered to challenge Grant and appeared to have won the ball but referee David Coote pointed to the spot. Mooy sent Town’s first penalty of the season down the middle, with Schmeichel diving to his right.
City went close to restoring their two goal lead three minutes later. Barnes burst into the area and a clever back-heel set up Maddison for a shot on the turn, but Hamer’s finger-tips guided it inches wide of  the far post.
Brendan Rodgers made his first change on the hour, bringing Okazaki on for Barnes.
Town were desperate to give their fans something to cheer about and had a decent spell, but substitute Mounie saw a fierce shot tipped away by Schmeichel.
City put the game beyond Town in the 78th minute with another superb Maddison free-kick. Vardy was hauled over by Hogg 25 yards out. Maddison delivered this one into the opposite corner to the one he scored at Burnley, catching Hamer out with a superb strike.

City got their fourth from the spot in the 84th minute. Great work from Maddison sent Vardy in on goal, but after he had rounded Hamer and shaped to score Kongolo ploughed into the back of him and there could be no argument.
Though Hamer did well to get a hand to Vardy’s spot kick he couldn’t keep it out.
This goal saw Vardy draw level with Gary Lineker in the club’s all-time goalscoring chart.

The league table doesn’t lie where Huddersfield are concerned, and it wasn’t quite a great performance from City, but it was another enjoyable afternoon under Brendan Rodgers from a youthful side that suggests a very bright future.

Rodgers singled out Söyüncü for special praise: “A special mention today to Cags, our centre half. He was only told this morning he was playing and that is testament to him.
I thought his performance, apart from a loose pass at the end when he was tired, was outstanding having not played for five months. He was very good and it was a very good team performance and to score four goals in the Premier League is never easy. They played very well and deserved the win.”

Huddersfield: Hamer, Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm, Mooy, Hogg (Bacuna 81), Stankovic (Mbenza 45), Löwe, Pritchard (Mounie 60), Grant.
Substitutes: Kachunga, Coleman, Williams, Hadergjonaj.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi (Choudhury 87), Gray, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Okazaki 61), Vardy (Iheanacho 90).
Substitutes: Iheanacho, Ward, Mendy, Fuchs, Ghezzal.

Referee: David Coote. Attendance: 24,126.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Leicester see off Cherries to continue winning run

Leicester City 2:0 AFC Bournemouth

A vibrant display of attacking football saw City earn their first Premier League win over Bournemouth, a fitting tribute on what would have been Khun Vichai’s 61st birthday…

Brendan Rodgers made one change to the side that started at Burnley, with Morgan in for the suspended Maguire.
City controlled the game from the start and took a 10th minute lead. Chilwell received the ball from a corner, took a touch and then fired a shot from the edge of the area that was going well wide, but Morgan diverted it past Begovic with a backheel. Only he will know whether it was intended or not.

Five minutes later the Cherries should have equalised when Fraser sent a cross over and Wilson caught it on the volley from five yards, but Schmeichel reacted superbly to beat it away.
That was a rare bit of action for Schmeichel as City continued to press forward with a high-tempo passing game. Barnes and Tielemans combined to set up Maddison, but he dragged his shot wide of the left hand post.
In the 27th minute a great run and cross from Ricardo found Vardy unmarked 15 yards out, but he made an uncharacteristic hash of his finish and the ball trundled wide.
Maddison then attempted a curling effort but it was a little too close to Begovic who gathered comfortably. Vardy then had a shot blocked by Ake and City had to be content with 1-0 lead at the break.

Two minutes into the second half Barnes beat two men down the right before delivering a low cross, but no City shirt was on hand.
Ndidi was having a fine game and one tackle on King earned him a huge round of applause.
City’s final ball was just lacking after a couple of great attacking moves, with Tielemans and then Maddison just failing to send Vardy in. Tielemans then attempted a long range effort that drifted wide.
The 61st minute brought a moving tribute to with white carves held aloft and the Khun Vichai song ringing around the ground for several minutes.

The Bournemouth defence were kept busy with Ake blocking shots from Tielemans and Ricardo as City provided a constant threat.
Brendan Rodgers made his first change in the 72nd minute, bringing Mendy on for Barnes.
City finally put the game to bed in the 82nd minute. Tielemans lofted a sublime ball in from the right, Bergovic came to claim, but Vardy beat him to it, nodding into an unguarded net.
It was the Belgian’s fourth assist in five games prompting chants of “Sign him on!”

A third consecutive Premier League win saw City move up to 8th place, level on points with Wolves. Brendan Rodgers has totally transformed the mood around the King Power Stadium and now City are in serious contention for a place in Europe.

Rodgers commented: “I thought we were excellent. We showed a real appetite and hunger and tactically we were very good. Our pressing was excellent, the boys are understanding tactically how we want to press and the importance of that. Each game, each day in training, we are getting more used to it.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Evans, Chilwell, Ndidi, Gray (Ghezzal 89), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Mendy 72). Vardy (Iheanacho 90).
Substitutes: Söyüncü, Ward, Okazaki, Fuchs.
Bournemouth: Begovic, Clyne, Mepham, Aké, Daniels (Rico 56), Brooks, Gosling, Lerma (Solanke 64), Fraser, King (Stanislas 74), Wilson.
Substitutes: Boruc, Mousset, Ibe, Simpson.

Referee: Lee Mason. Attendance: 31,530.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Ten man Leicester snatch victory at Burnley

Burnley 1:2 Leicester City

A late goal from Wes Morgan earned a win for City at Turf Moor on Saturday, despite the dismissal of Harry Maguire in only the fourth minute…

Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged side for this trip to a wet and windy Turf Moor, but soon had to revise his plans.
After an early spell of pressure for City, that saw Ricardo’s shot blocked and Tielemans flash a ball across goal that Vardy couldn’t quite reach, City found themselves reduced to ten men.
Burnley broke upfield and Gudmundsson went clear on goal before the pursuing Maguire accidentally clipped his heels. There was no argument against a red card with Maguire being the last man and he trooped off disconsolately. Further disaster was averted when Schmeichel touched Gudmundsson’s free-kick onto the bar, despite having to adjust to it taking a deflection off the wall.
Rodgers brought Morgan on for the unfortunate Gray, to restore City’s back-line in the 6th minute.
Gudmundsson then went on a run into the area and looked to have set up Wood for a tap-in but Ndidi managed to rob him with a fine challenge. As Burnley, in desperate need of a win, continued to press forward Gudmundsson crossed from the right, but Wood sent his header wide from a good position.
City then had good spell, with Maddison pulling the strings and exploiting the gap between Burnley’s defence and midfield. Barnes had a shot blocked, Ndidi’s header was deflected wide and then Barnes sent a ball across the goalmouth but Vardy hadn’t made a run.
City then delighted the visiting fans, taking a 33rd minute lead. Maddison was brought down by Tarkowski on the edge of the area and delivered a superb free-kick over the wall and into the top left hand corner. Michael Oliver had no choice but to book him for removing his shirt to reveal a tribute to his friend Sophie Taylor who passed away in January.
City could have gone two up five minutes later when Heaton saved from Vardy, but play swept upfield and Burnley levelled. Taylor had plenty of room down the left to cut the ball back to McNeil who arrowed a low shot across Schmeichel and into the net.
Burnley kept the pressure on for the rest of the half and City were glad to hear the half-time whistle.

City had the first chance of the second half when Vardy skipped past a challenge down the left and sent in a low cross that Barnes prodded wide. But chances were scarce after that as Burnley took control of the game.
Although they didn’t create many clear chances there were a series of penalty appeals, some more valid than others. Wood sent a volley at Evans’ arm from six inches, before Cork sent the rebound sailing over the bar.
Chilwell then clattered Maddison as they both went to head the same ball. Maddison played on after treatment but soon made way for Fuchs.
McNeil then crossed from the left but somehow Wood sent the ball over the bar from five yards out, his blushes spared by the linesman’s flag.
Tielemans curved a threatening free-kick into the area but no blue shirt had read it. It is a good weapon in his armoury and should produce results when the strikers get tuned into it.
It was a rare foray forward by City and Burnley were soon yelling for another penalty. Taylor cut into the area from the left, Ndidi caught him on the thigh sending him over and, to the outrage of the home support, Michael Oliver awarded a goal kick.
Rodgers made his third change in the 76th minute, bringing Mendy on for Barnes.
Two minutes later there was another big penalty shout when the ball appeared to hit Morgan on the arm in an aerial challenge with Crouch.
Fuchs and Crouch then had a wrestling match in the area, but Oliver ignored the increasingly frantic penalty appeals and awarded a free-kick to City.
McNeil then sent a shot from the edge of the area whistling over the bar.
Play was entirely in City’s half by this stage, and the ten men were clinging to their point in the wind and rain. But the game had a twist in its tail…
In the 90th minute City at last managed to get out of their own half and won a corner.
Tielemans flag-kick was nodded clear only as far as Ricardo who fed it back to Tielemans. The Belgian hung a cross over to the far post and Morgan nodded it home from close range.
The away end went mad, but there was still a bit to do in four minutes of time-added-on. A Burnley move ended with Vydra in a one-on-one with Schmeichel, but the City keeper managed a fine block from close range and City had the points.

It had been an immense display after the early set-back and Brendan Rodgers was delighted… “Everyone knows how tough it is to come here with 11 men but to play almost the whole game with 10. We actually started quite bright in that opening five minutes, but to lose a man and dig in like we did it was an incredible performance of resilience. You have to fight, you have to be resilient and you have to be persistent and when the chances come you’ve got to take them. A fantastic three points.”

Burnley: Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson (Brady 79), Westwood, Cork, McNeil (Vydra 90), Wood (Crouch 70), Barnes.
Substitutes: Lowton, Hendrick, Gibson, Hart.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi, Gray (Morgan 6), Tielemans, Maddison (Fuchs 64), Barnes (Mendy 77), Vardy.
Substitutes: Iheanacho, Ward, Okazaki, Ghezzal.

Referee: Michael Oliver. Attendance: 20,719.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

 

Centurion Vardy seals Rodgers first home win

Leicester City 3:1 Fulham

Jamie Vardy’s 100th goal secured a 3-1 win over Fulham at the KPS on Saturday after the visitors had threatened a comeback…

Brendan Rodgers made one change to his side for the visit of doomed Fulham, with Gray in for Morgan and a change of formation that showed he may be more adaptable than his predecessor.
After a couple of early Fulham corners, City gained control of the play and their first chance arrived in the 6th minute. Barnes teed up Tielemans inside the area but he fired his shot over the angle.
As City pressed forward Ricardo shanked a shot well wide and Ndidi sent a long range effort over the bar.
City were playing some good football, with Barnes and Maddison providing some great touches, and the latter sent Vardy in behind the Fulham defence, but he was denied by a late Nordtveit block.
City took what seemed like an inevitable lead in the 20th minute.
Ndidi played a ball forward to Vardy, who generously squared to Tielemans as Rico rushed out to meet him. The Belgian took a touch round Ream before slotting home his first goal for the club.
City went close again three minutes later, but Barnes didn’t get quite enough curl on his shot and it went narrowly wide.

It was all City at this stage with Fulham offering very little and Schmeichel a spectator, but they couldn’t add a second before the break. Maddison sent a couple of shots wide, Vardy had shot blocked, and Tielemans forced a save from Rico.

Although City had the first chance of the second half when Tielemans crossed for Vardy who headed wide, they suffered a setback in the 51st minute when Fulham converted their first chance of the game. Ayite beat Chilwell down the right and cut inside into the area, before sending his shot in off Maguire, the deflection deceiving Schmeichel.

It was a soft goal, and appeared to knock City’s confidence and boost Fulham’s.
Although Rico tipped a Barnes shot round the post at full-stretch Fulham were threatening now. Babel sent a shot wide from a good position and then Schmeichel had to scramble across goal to save a well directed Mitrovic header.
With City having lost all their zip of the first half, Rodgers made a double change in the 71st minute bringing on Ghezzal and Okazaki for Gray and Tielemans.
This had a positive effect and City regained their lead in the 77th minute. Nordtveit gave the ball away in midfield and Maddison played a beautifully weighted ball to send Vardy racing in on goal and he fired a shot across Rico to claim his 99th goal for the club.

Rodgers then brought Mendy on for Maddison to augment City’s defence, though Fulham’s spirit was broken and City were doing all the attacking.
Okazaki forced a save from Rico and Mendy fired a shot over.
With five minutes remaining Vardy achieved his 100th goal milestone.
Barnes shrugged off a strong challenge down the left and squared the ball for Vardy who side-footed his 100th goal for the club past Rico, capping off a fine afternoon at the King Power Stadium.

Rodgers was full of praise for a striker who was now being given the opportunity to strike again: “He’s showed over the past couple of years that he’s a world-class striker. I’m just really glad that he’s here. He’s a brilliant focal point for the team.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Tielemans (Ghezzal 72), Ndidi, Gray (Okazaki 72), Maddison (Mendy 81), Barnes, Vardy.
Substitutes: Morgan, Iheanacho, Ward, Fuchs.
Fulham: Rico, Odoi, Nordtveit, Ream, Bryan, Chambers, McDonald (Vietto 82), Cairney, Babel (Seri 67), Mitrovic, Sessegnon (Ayité 45).
Substitutes: Le Marchand, Christie, Zambo Anguissa, Fabri.

Referee: David Coote. Attendance: 32,017.

Photos: Simon Kimber.

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